Portable automated medication dispenser

Abstract

Disclosed is a portable medication dispenser. The portable medication dispenser includes a housing comprising multiple compartments, wherein each compartment is configured to accommodate one or more medications, wherein the housing is constructed with a tamper-proof material. Further, the portable medication dispenser includes multiple latches corresponding to the multiple compartments. Yet further, the portable medication dispenser includes one or more actuators configured to engage with one or more latches of the multiple latches. Yet further, the portable medication dispenser includes a controller electrically coupled to the one or more actuators. Moreover, the portable medication dispenser includes a communication interface coupled to the controller, wherein the communication interface is configured to receive one or more commands associated with activating the one or more actuators. Additionally, the portable medication dispenser comprising a chemical agent to be released into at least one compartment upon command to render medication within the compartment inert.

I claim: 
     
       1. A portable medication dispenser comprising:
 a housing comprising a plurality of compartments, wherein each compartment is configured to accommodate at least one medication, wherein the housing is constructed with a tamper-proof material; 
 a plurality of latches corresponding to the plurality of compartments, wherein a latch corresponding to a compartment is configured to be in one of a locked state and an unlocked state, wherein, in the locked state, the latch is configured to prevent access to an interior space of the compartment, wherein, in the unlocked state, the latch is configured to allow access to the interior space facilitating dispensing of the at least one medication; 
 at least one actuator configured to engage with at least one latch of the plurality of latches, wherein, when activated, the at least one actuator engaged with a latch is configured to change the state of the latch from the locked state to the unlocked state; 
 at least one power source configured to supply power to drive the at least one actuator; 
 a controller electrically coupled to the at least one actuator, wherein the controller is configured to activate the at least one actuator; 
 a communication interface coupled to the controller, wherein the communication interface is configured to receive at least one command associated with activating the at least one actuator; 
 the housing being shaped as a disc; 
 the plurality of compartments being arranged around the disc; 
 a solenoid; and 
 the solenoid being disposed at a central region of the disc. 
 
     
     
       2. The portable medication dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the latch comprises a sliding door and an internal spring-loaded pin, wherein the sliding door is configured to be in the locked state by the internal spring-loaded pin set in a loaded state, wherein an actuator of the at least one actuator comprises the solenoid configured to pull back the internal spring-loaded pin into an unloaded state, causing the latch to change from the locked state to the unlocked state, wherein, in the unlocked state, the sliding door creates an opening into the interior space of the compartment. 
     
     
       3. The portable medication dispenser of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one actuator comprises a motor driven slide, wherein the solenoid is slidably mounted on the motor driven slide, wherein activating the at least one actuator comprises driving the motor driven slide to displace the solenoid to a position on the motor driven slide corresponding to the compartment. 
     
     
       4. The portable medication dispenser of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one actuator comprises a plurality of solenoids corresponding to the plurality of compartments. 
     
     
       5. The portable medication dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the latch comprises a sliding door and an internal spring-loaded pin, wherein the sliding door is configured to be in the locked state by the internal spring-loaded pin set in a loaded state, wherein an actuator of the at least one actuator comprises a cam mounted on a shaft, wherein the cam is configured to pull back the internal spring-loaded pin into an unloaded state, upon rotation of the shaft, causing the latch to change from the locked state to the unlocked state, wherein, in the unlocked state, the sliding door creates an opening into the interior space of the compartment. 
     
     
       6. The portable medication dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one actuator comprises a micro-hydraulic piston comprising an electrically controlled micro valve configured for directing a fluid. 
     
     
       7. The portable medication dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one actuator comprises a pneumatic piston comprising an electrically controlled micro valve configured for directing a pressurized gas. 
     
     
       8. The portable medication dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one actuator comprises a stepper motor. 
     
     
       9. The portable medication dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the compartment corresponding to the latch is configured as a drawer slidable between an open position and a closed position, wherein the latch comprises an internal spring-loaded pin, wherein the latch is configured to be in the locked state by the internal spring-loaded pin set in a loaded state, wherein, in the locked state, the drawer is in the closed position, wherein an actuator of the at least one actuator is configured to release the internal spring-loaded pin into an unloaded state causing the latch to change from the locked state to the unlocked state, wherein, in the unlocked state, the drawer is slidable to the open position. 
     
     
       10. The portable medication dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the communication interface is configured to wirelessly receive the at least one command. 
     
     
       11. The portable medication dispenser of  claim 1  further comprising a memory communicatively coupled to the controller, wherein the memory is configured to store the at least one command. 
     
     
       12. The portable medication dispenser of  claim 11 , wherein the communication interface is further configured to transmit data associated with activating the at least one actuator, wherein the data is stored in the memory. 
     
     
       13. The portable medication dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the communication interface is further configured to transmit data associated with at least one state of the at least one actuator, wherein the data is stored in the memory, wherein the portable medication dispenser comprises at least one sensor configured to detect the at least one state. 
     
     
       14. The portable medication dispenser of  claim 13  further comprising at least one light indicator configured to indicate the at least one state. 
     
     
       15. The portable medication dispenser of  claim 11 , wherein the memory is configured to store at least one dispensing schedule, wherein the controller is further configured to activate the at least one actuator based on the dispensing schedule. 
     
     
       16. The portable medication dispenser of  claim 15  further comprising a vibrator configured to generate at least one of an audible sound and a vibration, wherein the vibrator is communicatively coupled to the controller and the at least one power source, wherein the controller is further configured to activate the vibrator based on the dispensing schedule. 
     
     
       17. The portable medication dispenser of  claim 1  further comprising a tampering sensor configured to detect tampering performed on the portable medication dispenser. 
     
     
       18. The portable medication dispenser of  claim 17 , wherein the tampering sensor is communicatively coupled to the communication interface, wherein the communication interface is further configured to transmit a tampering alert based on detection of tampering. 
     
     
       19. The portable medication dispenser of  claim 18  further comprising:
 at least one chemical container comprising a chemical agent; and 
 at least one chemical actuator configured to release the chemical agent into at least one compartment of the plurality of compartments when the chemical actuator is activated, wherein the at least one chemical actuator is communicatively coupled to the tampering sensor, wherein detection of the tampering causes activation of the at least one chemical actuator. 
 
     
     
       20. The portable medication dispenser of  claim 19 , wherein the chemical agent is configured to react with a medication contained in the at least one compartment in order to render the medication unusable. 
     
     
       21. The portable medication dispenser of  claim 20 , wherein the tampering sensor is configured to detect a breaking of the plurality of compartments. 
     
     
       22. The portable medication dispenser of  claim 1  further comprising:
 at least one chemical container comprising a chemical agent; and 
 at least one chemical actuator configured to release the chemical agent into at least one compartment of the plurality of compartments when the chemical actuator is activated, wherein the at least one chemical actuator is communicatively coupled to the communication interface, wherein the communication interface is further configured to receive a chemical release command, wherein receipt of the chemical release command causes activation of the at least one chemical actuator. 
 
     
     
       23. The portable medication dispenser of  claim 1  further comprising a Global Positioning System (GPS) locator configured to determine a geographical location of the portable medication dispenser. 
     
     
       24. The portable medication dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the communication interface is configured to mount a smartphone, wherein mounting of the smartphone enables communication between the portable medication dispenser and the smartphone. 
     
     
       25. The portable medication dispenser of  claim 24 , wherein mounting of the smartphone enables a user to control operation of the portable medication dispenser through a touchscreen of the smartphone. 
     
     
       26. The portable medication dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the tamper-proof material is at least one of stainless steel, a metal alloy, a high strength acrylic laminate and a composite plastic. 
     
     
       27. The portable medication dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein an exposed surface of the plurality of compartments is configured to be convex in shape in order to thwart tampering. 
     
     
       28. The portable medication dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein an exposed surface of the plurality of compartments is coated with at least one of an abrasive and a vitreous material configured to perform at least one of abrade and deflect a drill-bit. 
     
     
       29. The portable medication dispenser of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a plurality of external manual buttons corresponding to the plurality of latches; 
 an engagement link configured to mechanically couple the plurality of external manual buttons with the plurality of latches, wherein a manual button is configured to change a state of a latch from the locked state to the unlocked state based on a pressing of the manual button, wherein manual button is capable of changing the state of the latch when the engagement link couples the manual button to the latch; and 
 a button actuator mechanically coupled to the engagement link, wherein the button actuator is configured to cause the engagement link to couple the plurality of buttons with the plurality of latches.